Roy Hodgson is facing a potential clash with leading Premier League clubs over
the squad he selects for England’s summer friendly internationals including
the prestige trip to face Brazil.

The England manager has indicated that he will take a strong squad and, if needs be, is also willing to invoke the Fifa rule that players must prioritise international commitments on official Fifa dates.

England are due to play the Republic of Ireland at Wembley Stadium on May 29 and then fly to Rio de Janeiro the following day to play Brazil on June 2 as part of the Football Association’s 150th anniversary celebrations as well as, hopefully, preparing for next year’s World Cup finals - although qualification is now in the balance.

However matters are complicated because Manchester City and Chelsea are due to fly to the United States to play each other in money-spinning friendlies in St Louis on May 23 and then in New York on May 26.

Arsenal are also keen for their players, Jack Wilshere, in particular, to be rested while Manchester United - with six, possibly seven, players representing England - will also monitor the situation carefully. Worries of player fatigue will be a concern after a gruelling domestic season.

“As far as I understand it, quite simply the period of time in May and June are Fifa dates,” Hodgson said. “When there are Fifa dates and international matches the first call on the players is for the international teams.”

Following the disappointing draw away to Montenegro, Hodgson signalled his intention of using the games against Ireland and Brazil to prepare for England’s last four World Cup qualifiers. They may have to win all four matches.

“We’ve got some good opportunities now in the summer with the two games to do a post-match analysis not only of this [Montenegro] game but some of the others that we’ve played to make sure everyone is fully understanding of the way we’d like to go forward,” Hodgson said, thereby suggesting that he did not intend to take an experimental squad.

Under Fifa regulations players have to report for international duty if selected for friendly matches no later than 48 hours before the game is due to take place which may have some impact on City and Chelsea’s plans for their US games. Joe Hart, James Milner, Joleon Lescott, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole and Gary Cahill may all be affected.

Asked whether he would do any ‘deals’ with clubs over his selection, Hodgson said: “At the moment I’ve got no comment to make on it because I’ve not given any thought to that I’ve now got six weeks, seven weeks to concern myself with who plays against Ireland and who goes to Brazil.

“As far as I’m concerned these are two bona fide matches and a lot of other teams in this period of time are actually playing qualifiers so I don’t think I need to have any worries as to whether the players I select will come and play for England because they are aware that we need to prepare well for the autumn internationals.”